One sign spotted yesterday led to a few questions.
WHAT?
Adjacent to the sign was a small enclosed area – approx. 3m/10’ x 3m/10’. It has 4’/1.2m fencing to secure it from the surrounding space. The gate had a shooting bolt but no lock so it could be opened and closed by anyone. It had a brushed concrete finish which differed from the adjoining area.
I have seen some hooks on buildings to allow dogs to be secured while the dogs’ owners shopped/coffee’d. That was my first thought as to spending area – an area in which a dog could spend some time while the dogs’ human had other duties.
That thought was wrong. The internet has educated that it is an area in which dogs are placed for toileting/relieving.
Adjacent to the sign was a small enclosed area – approx. 3m/10’ x 3m/10’. It has 4’/1.2m fencing to secure it from the surrounding space. The gate had a shooting bolt but no lock so it could be opened and closed by anyone. It had a brushed concrete finish which differed from the adjoining area.
I have seen some hooks on buildings to allow dogs to be secured while the dogs’ owners shopped/coffee’d. That was my first thought as to spending area – an area in which a dog could spend some time while the dogs’ human had other duties.
That thought was wrong. The internet has educated that it is an area in which dogs are placed for toileting/relieving.
| Place for dogs to spend time - but not to spend | “spend verb (spent, spending) 1 tr & intr (often spend on) to pay out (money, etc) eg on buying something new, for a service, repair, etc. 2 to use or devote (eg time, energy, effort, etc) • spent hours trying to fix the car. 3 to use up completely; to exhaust • Her anger soon spends itself. noun 1 an act or the process of spending (especially money) • went on a massive spend after winning the Lottery. 2 an amount (of money) that is spent • allocated a £5 million spend for advertising. spendable adj. spender noun. spending noun. spent adj used up; exhausted • a spent match. spend a penny Brit euphemistic to urinate or go to the toilet |
WHEN?
This discovery led to the question as to when this became an accepted use for the word. It was definitely not a term that I had heard used before.
Dictionaries do add words every year or so. Chambers has yet to list toileting/ urinating/ defecating as an option for spending – so maybe I am not alone.
There is a document on the web dating back to 2018 using the term
This discovery led to the question as to when this became an accepted use for the word. It was definitely not a term that I had heard used before.
Dictionaries do add words every year or so. Chambers has yet to list toileting/ urinating/ defecating as an option for spending – so maybe I am not alone.
There is a document on the web dating back to 2018 using the term
REALLY?
I now realise that we only got to the first rung on the ladder with our dog training. The dogs did, after a while, relieved themselves in the garden or when on walks.
The upper steps of that ladder involve the dogs being trained as to when to relieve themselves – meaning that the owner can decide as to where.
I now realise that we only got to the first rung on the ladder with our dog training. The dogs did, after a while, relieved themselves in the garden or when on walks.
The upper steps of that ladder involve the dogs being trained as to when to relieve themselves – meaning that the owner can decide as to where.
